Haringey LBC has transfered the management of its cemeteries and crematoria to Dignity.Under the 50-year contract, the council’s two cemeteries and its crematorium will be upgraded in line with modern carbon-emission rules.

Haringey’s current cemeteries and crematorium produce a small annual income for the authority, but the sites are in need of significant modernisation. The crematorium at Enfield, for example, will receive a £2m upgrade as part of the deal, while current staff at Haringey will transfer to Dignity.

Cllr Nilgun Canver, Haringey’s cabinet member for environment, said: ‘Our facilities will get the capital investment needed to bring them up to date, but without drawing resources away from other frontline council services. On top of this, the borough is guaranteed an annual income, linked to inflation, for up to 50 years.’

A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to privatise the management of Haringey's cemeteries and crematorium will begin early next year after a contractor was chosen.
The plan to hand the day-to-day running of the cemeteries in Wood Green and Tottenham, and Enfield Crematorium to private firm Dignity plc was agreed by councillors in November last year to save money.
The council decided on the move to avoid having to find at least £6.6m in the next five years to invest in the service to meet emissions targets and to find new burial plots.